Hogan Lovells expresses support for UN Standards of Conduct addressing discrimination against LGBTI people

London and Washington D.C. – To mark the one year anniversary of its global Pride+ network, and show continued support for the International Day Against Homophobia, Bi-phobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT), global law firm Hogan Lovells has affirmed its commitment to lesbian, gay, bi, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people by joining 110 of the largest companies in the world in expressing support for a set of five UN global Standards of Conduct for business aimed at supporting LGBTI individuals and tackling discrimination.

“It is important to recognize that the fight for equality around the world is far from over. Businesses must take the lead, especially in locations where human rights are not a given. We are pleased to join in making these UN Standards our own, and will continue to support our people, clients and communities around the world with internal and external initiatives.”

Launched by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein in September 2017, the Standards have already received support from several major global businesses.

“There is growing evidence that, besides being the right thing to do, standing up for equal rights for LGBTI people is also in the private sector’s commercial interest,” the High Commissioner noted. “Excluding any group slows us all down. Eliminating discrimination is the key to unlocking talent and maximizing productivity.”

The new standards draw on good practice from around the world to set out actions companies can take to protect the rights of LGBTI people, including eliminating workplace discrimination; making sure business operations do not contribute to discrimination against customers, suppliers or members of the public; and working with business partners to address discriminatory practices up and down the supply chain.

The five standards for businesses signing up to support the initiative are:

RESPECT the human rights of their LGBTI workers, customers and members of the public

ELIMINATE workplace discrimination against LGBTI employees

SUPPORT LGBTI employees at work

PREVENT discrimination and related abuses against LGBTI customers, suppliers and distributors – and insist that suppliers do the same

STAND UP for the human rights of LGBTI people in the communities where companies do business.

Hogan Lovells has a strong diversity and inclusion culture, advocating and awareness-raising throughout its global network of offices – including in locations where homosexuality remains illegal and where the LGBTI community is persecuted. In the last year the firm has launched a new LGBT+ global allies network, Pride +, and won acclaim in the UK for creating a trans inclusion policy, the first of its kind in the UK legal market. It has recently featured as a trans inclusion case study in The Diversity Agenda: Lessons and Guidance from the Legal Profession, published in April.

The firms' Pride+ Network has over 1270 members around the world, including LGBT+ allies, working together to provide a safe environment for LGBT+ colleagues and clients to be themselves; raise awareness and help overcome barriers; and challenge inappropriate behaviours, language, stereotypes, and assumptions.

The firm ranked in the Stonewall Top 100 Employers 2018 Workplace Equality Index for the eighth consecutive year, and was recognized by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) with a 100 percent rating in its 2018 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) for the ninth consecutive year.